Dubai  is one of the most luxurious places to visit in all the world, but you don’t  have to break the bank as there are many cheap hotels in Dubai that can  offer you the charm and comfort of a first class experience. All of the cheap  hotels in Dubai cater for those travellers who want to immerse themselves  in the culture but have to do so on a budget. You will not miss out on anything  when you stay in one of the excellent cheap hotels in Dubai and you will  really see this fantastic place flourish before your eyes.

   If you stay in one  of the cheap hotels in Dubai then you will save a lot of money and be  able to enjoy a lot more of what Dubai can offer you. You can make a great  saving to your budget if you choose the right one of the cheap hotels in  Dubai for your needs. The money that you save can go towards all of the  fabulous activities that you can do in this city. You can spend your money on  the great nightlife and have a wonderful time soaking up moonlit Dubai. You can  spend money in one of the fabulous designer stores and really look the part of  the seasoned traveller, there are many great reasons to stay in one of the cheap  hotels in Dubai.

   Cheap hotels in  Dubai are sprinkled all over the city, and while they may not be as  expensive as there business class counterparts, they do not hold back on  excellent customer service and attention to detail. Many of the rooms in the cheap  hotels in Dubai are of a high standard, and what you would expect from one  of the worlds great cities. The staff will always present a warm and hospitable  presence and will make you feel like you are on the holiday of a lifetime.

   You don’t have to  compromise on your dream holiday when you stay in a fantastic cheap hotels  in Dubai and you will truly have the chance to see all of Dubai and soak up  all of its flavours and sensational attractions. There is always something to  see and do in the capital of Middle Eastern luxury.

  Dubai is one of the most luxurious places to visit in all the world, but you don’t have to break the bank as there are many cheap hotels in Dubai that can offer you the charm and comfort of a first class experience. All of the cheap hotels in Dubai cater for those travellers who want to immerse themselves in the culture but have to do so on a budget. You will not miss out on anything when you stay in one of the excellent cheap hotels in Dubai and you will really see this fantastic place flourish before your eyes.

A notable discount was visible in rates offered by hotels in Dubai to greet the Dubai Shopping Festival. DTMC has called for plans to introduce a special rates ranging from 40 to 60 per cent discount on room rates. This discount is in addition to a 25% discount in the prices of F&B in these hotels. This reduction will be mobile from January 10 until mid-February to cater the staying needs of tons of visitors expected to visit Dubai for the shopping festival. During the last quarter of 2008, Dubai hotels revealed the bad shape of its bookings following global economic turmoil and few of them did not wait till mid January 2009 to announce the special offers.

Khaleej Times a leading daily of  UAE reported that Hamra Hotels & Resorts offered its exclusive corporate room rates at a discounted 40 to 60 per cent now for all room types, from as low as Dh450 to a high of Dh1,900 for single and between Dh450 and Dh1,900 for double. The original room rates were between Dh1, 700 and Dh3, 000  per night for single and the price range was between Dh1,900 and Dh2,900 for double rooms.

Some other popular hotels offering discounts are:

Al Hamra Village Golf Resort: Single room (Dh 250 up to Dh1,200 per night)

                                                  Double room (Dh300 up to Dh1,250 per night)

Khatt Springs Hotel and Spa: Single room (Dh350 and Dh900 per night)

                                                Double room (Dh400 and Dh950 per night)

Hilton Hotels have announced 50 per cent discount for weekend breaks until the end of August 2009, for bookings made up to January 31, 2009. This offer is valid for 220 Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf-Astoria Collection, Doubletree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn Hotels across 45 countries.

Several other Dubai hotels like the Coral Group of Hotels (Coral Deira, Dubai, Coral Boutique Villas, Al Barsha, Coral Boutique Hotel Apartments, Al Barsha) and Radissions SAS also have announced price slash as DSF progresses.

In view of the current development in the hospitality industry many of the hotel property developers have showed signs of holding new projects in Dubai and other surrounding emirates like Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Hotel occupancy in Dubai has reported a fall by 14% in the third quarter compared to the occupancy rates in 2007. The occupancy rate for hotel beds dropped to 75.2% from 83.1% a year earlier, while the number of guests-nights in hotels fell 3.5%. Anticipating that a competitive demand will cause scarcity of rooms, new projects were launched in 2006 an 2007 leading to the growth of number of available hotel rooms by 13.3% and the number of beds 9.9%. Some property developers have not yet stepped back and they believe that this crisis is a temporary crunch and they still hold a positive thought regarding the forecast. Michael Frances, Marketing and Communication Manager, Dusit Dubai, expressed positive remarks about business picking up with the start of the New Year.

According to Niel Rumbaoa, Director Communication, Shangri-La, Hotel Dubai, they have not yet finalised the DSF promotional rates. But Shangri-La, Hotel Dubai already running various promotions this season.” The Address Hotels and Resorts, which is a premium hotel brand of Emaar Hospitality Group plans to expand its portfolio by adding around 15 hotels by 2011. According to CEO Marc Dardennes only some of the hotels would be owned by the group, branded as The Address, while other hotels would only be managed by the Emmar Group.

All major Dubai Hotels including five star hotels in Dubai and also cheap hotels in Dubai have introduced seasonal offers in view of the shopping festival. A list of these hotels can be obtained from http://www.hotelsdubaionline.com

Shopping is all time favorite activity by people of all ages, genders, nations and cultures. However their trends and attitude may be changed in terms of local traditions, circumstances and environment.  Overall people are always enthusiast about shopping and love to participate in all its relevant activities. There are certain shopping festivals that are celebrated annually and attract large number of visitors all around the world.  Here are few:

Dubai International Shopping Festival

Dubai is known as a city of Gold and a beautiful place and famous for its shopping malls and duty free / tax free purchases. Dubai shopping festival was inaugurated in 1996 and since then it has become a hottest tourist spot with countless new products to purchase at discounted prices, lot of fireworks and luxurious lifestyle.  This festival is celebrated in first quarter of every year normally in February. It’s a huge event where millions of visitors come from across the world.

New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF)

This wonderful gift fair provides an excellent opportunity to expand the scope of consumer oriented gift products with lot entertaining and educational activities. Both visitors and exhibitors fully participate and make it a global marketplace for giftware. Here you can find the latest items, new trends, useful resources and broad range of accessories.

Gem Faire-San Diego

This gem faire is an ideal occasion to find purest quality of gemstones, beads, jewelry, and other relevant accessories.  Here you can also meet the industry top designers, importers, manufacturers and other leading resources.

Off Price Apparel Show-Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a popular destination for tourists and this beautiful area is full of numerous attractions, Off Price Apparel Show is one of them.  Almost 20 to 70% prices are below the original manufacturer price that is a huge discount. Casual, formal, athletic, intimated, night ware, all types of apparels are available for men, women and kids. For all people who love to buy cheaper clothes, this is a must attending show.

There are countless shows, fairs and festivals conducted all around on different places and seasons. Visitors not only find extra ordinary shopping facilities but lots of entertainment also.  Important point is to fully participate and have fun.

If you are going to visit Dubai there is one terrific place where you may stay. That is the Jumeirah Beach resort’s Arabian Tower – Burj Al Arab. This hotel is the highest in the whole world. Its height is 321 meters. It is lower than the Empire State Building for only 60 meters. The hotel includes 27 double-height storeys. There are 202 duplex suites. You may get to Burj Al Arab by one of the hotel’s Rolls Royce meeting you at the airport.

There are many kinds of suites in Burj Al Arab: two Presidential and two Royal suites, six three-bedroom suites, twenty eight two-bedroom suites, eighteen one-bedroom panoramic suites, four one- bedroom club suites and 142 one-bedroom deluxe suites. The interiors of the hotel are incredible. From all over the world different precious materials were coming. Everything is handcrafted. All the suites have floor to ceiling windows. You’ll enjoy the latest technologies, such as cameras showing all the visitors to your suite (you may let the guests to come in staying in your bed), Internet access and others. Abu Dhabi is the biggest and the most densely populated emirate. According to these characteristics Dubai comes the second one in the UAE. This country is considered to be rich for its oils, now tourism is another great source of the revenue.

Among the biggest developing cities in the world Dubai is the second one in the list, right after Shanghai. Various industries of Dubai attract the businessmen. Many sports events and conferences are often held here. Guinness records also make this place world-known. The city is waiting for visitors. Be ready to see the most magnificent enormous buildings which will impress you incredibly.

Thailand is the place where people offer everything with openness of heart. Their smile is enough to win your heart over. Thailand, itself, has a heart of islands called phuket. This archipelago of private islands offers all the opportunities at cheap prices. The luxury is at considerably low prices. The peace and exotic beachfronts will hold your nerves for a long time. You will never have seen such beautiful sandy beaches with peaceful atmosphere as does phuket have. Phuket islands are all and everything. Phuket islands have a beautiful lane of phuket hotel resorts and phuket villas. Phuket hotel resorts and phuket villas are crucial part of phuket islands.

Beach villas phuket and phuket villas part of phuket property have been raised by real estate companies phuket and jumeirah construction. Jumeirah is famous with people due to jumeirah construction in Dubai. Jumeirah’s unique construction is Burj-al-Arab Dubai. Jumeriah’s various constructs in Dubai are major business centers in today’s world. Those business centers have been earning a great deal and contributing hugely to the economy of Dubai. Besides, various yacht clubs with soothing atmosphere are in phuket at cheap prices. You can hire a yacht to take a voyage of these private islands.

On the other hand, Thailand homes, phuket villas and phuket hotel resorts have modern touches of architect that can be counted as part of unique constructs in the world. These Thailand homes, phuket hotel resorts and phuket villas are avenues of investment as well.

Thailand homes, phuket hotel resorts and phuket villas are available at low prices and the investors can invest in once and earn for life time; because Thailand homes, phuket villas and phuket hotel resorts have been raised by real estate companies phuket and jumeirah construction. The real estate companies phuket promise to lead investors through all the legal procedures and will help them at every stage of business. This opportunity to invest in Thailand homes such as phuket hotel resorts and phuket villas is countable because all other exotic places’ prices which started like phuket are sky high now. Not an ordinary person can afford to invest in there. Contrarily, phuket property has been offering this opportunity and the time is not far when property in phuket will shoot sky high.

Real estate companies phuket is a sole caretaker of property phuket. Resultantly, property phuket should be consulted for with real estate phuket. This way, phuket property is offering numerous opportunities to not only visitors but also investors.

Thailand has been attracting people of the world for various attractions available in Thailand. It is only phuket that has opened various exotic fronts for visitors. But the market for phuket has been developing every now and then. The day is not far when phuket will be apple of eyes within a short time because property in phuket has been creating market in the whole world. The day is not far when Thailand property will be rated first priority in every way. The flux of private islands as part of phuket property has magnetic attraction for the whole world. This visiting heaven has sweeping capability and resourcefulness to swallow as many people as possible and dignifying atmosphere with soothing nightlife.

Due to private islands as property phuket an important part of Thailand property the whole cluster of islands imparts love, tranquility and luxury. The slogan will be on lips of every one that phuket is the best visiting haven across the globe;Las Vegas comes next.

Comedian Don Barnhart tells what it takes to make the soldiers laugh in a dangerous setting like a war zone.

My name is Don Barnhart and I am a professional stand up comedian.  What do I mean by ‘professional’?  Well, what I mean is that I have been fortunate enough to make a comfortable living travelling the world making people laugh which should answer the follow up question that yes, I actually am very funny.  I’ve been on a few TV shows and appeared in some movies.  If you’re a rabid fan of comedy, you might recognize me as I tour over 250 days a year but I’m not quite up there in the celebrity status the likes of Jim Carrey, Robin Williams or Jerry Seinfeld but I’m right behind them.

Since 1992, I have also tried to spend several weeks a year entertaining the military troops stationed overseas.  I’ve done this during peacetime and during times of war and everywhere I go people ask what it’s like to perform in a dangerous setting like Afghanistan or Iraq so here is my story.

First and foremost, I consider it an honour and privilege to be asked to come over and entertain the troops.  As I said before, I’m extremely fortunate to able to make a living doing what I love and I feel we all have an obligation as an American citizen to support our troops in the best way we know how even if you object to the war itself.

The reason I started doing ‘my part’ is that it’s part of my work-release program and I only have 30 more hours of community service then I’m done! (Just kidding, that was a joke.)  Seriously, the men and women in the military defend America and all of her Freedoms and I’m able to make a great living using those Freedoms.  I also feel it’s important to support the troops in any way you know how.  If I knew how to bake cookies, I would do that and send over a care package but I’m much better at telling jokes so I go there and entertain, shake hands and thank the men and women who serve our country.  It’s both emotionally and physically tough but there is such an immense sense of pride I feel when I get to do my part and be part of the team.  But honestly, I kinda feel like I’m the least significant person out there.   I kinda feel like the water boy on the super bowl team.

The whole reason I started doing military shows goes back to mid, 1992.   I went through a bitter divorce after I found out my wife was ‘dating again’.  (A joke but not really a joke) I took off to Europe to find myself (actually to get as far away as possible from everyone I knew or that knew me and my ‘situation’).  Anyway, while I was doing shows throughout Sweden I found myself sitting in a cold, dark and gloomy smoke filled café feeling sorry for myself and I looked out the window and noticed a sign for the USO.  I finished my cappuccino and trudged across the snow-lined street and went in.  I starting asking if they would be interested in a comedy show as I had a whole lot of free time and nothing to do so they gave me the main info and I sent in my demo and next thing I know, I’m on a plane heading to war torn Bosnia with the Gin Blossoms and 49 Cheerleaders.

Each show is different and it really depends on who’s booking it and for the bigger shows with celebrities and bands they need a lot of lead-time.  For them, it’s a much bigger production and the logistics are a nightmare as they have sound equipment, staff, costumes, gear and who knows what else.  For one celebrity, the tour never manifested, as she wanted a four-star hotel and limo for her Afghanistan concert.  She didn’t get it.   We’re there on a military base in the middle of a war and not on the beach on the French Rivera.  Anyway, she went in to rehab the following month so she never did make the tour. 

For groups like Comics On Duty who specialize in just comedy shows, it’s much easier and we can be prepared to go at the drop of a hat but on the average a few months lead time is the best.  With comedy, it’s much easier to change venues, add shows and adjust to the constantly changing conditions on the ground.   When it is just comedians, we try to add shows whenever we can on a tour and we try and get out to the troops that really need it the most.  We’ve added shows in hangers with no sound gear, on flight decks, flat beds, in front of a land-mine field.   It all pretty non-glamorous.

Performing for the troops is different than performing at a regular comedy club in the states and once you’ve done a few tours, you are bonded with the soldiers and there truly is certain sense of camaraderie and understanding.  Underlying the shows is an awareness that at any second, we might have to scramble and be caught in a firefight.  We might have to run for cover or return fire.   So even though I’m in the middle of a joke, my senses are on full alert.  Once when I was in the middle of show I heard a huge explosion just outside and I dropped to the floor for cover and the crowd roared with laughter, as this was a ‘normal’ sound to them.  I just about wet my pants but I was now part of the team.   I’m there to get laughs whether it’s something I say or something I did, I’m there to entertain.  I don’t flinch as much but I’m still fully aware to all the external sounds and surroundings when I’m performing over there.

The reason we come over is to entertain and show our support and to let them know how much we care about them and the job they are doing…how much we respect them and I think they have a certain respect for us coming over there.  We’re all in it together as we eat the same food and have to deal with the same amenities.  If there’s no hot water, then there is no hot water for everybody and sometimes it’s MREs (Meals Ready To Eat) for weeks at a time.

The troops are so accommodating to us and go out of their way to make us feel at home.  We were doing shows in the Persian Gulf and getting choppered from ship to ship and a really bad storm came up and they were going to cancel a show because if we flew in, we would have to overnight on the ship but there was no place to put us up and the guys on the ship offered to give us there cots and they would sleep on the floor just so their ship wouldn’t miss getting some entertainment.

The real difference between a so-called ‘regular’ audience and performing for the troops is that by far, the troops are the best audiences ever.  There really is no comparison.  These men and women are putting their lives on the line each and every day and they don’t have time to laugh if it isn’t funny.  They’re honest in what they like and don’t like and that makes you a sharper comic.  In the states, people can go out on a date have dinner and a few drinks and if you don’t like the show, you can always leave and go do something else.  When you’re entertaining the troops, the show may be the only new thing they get for months at a time so you have to bring your ‘A’ game and be on top of it.  That’s why it so important to bring the best headlining comics and not a bunch of amateurs over here.  To give the troops an inferior product really makes my blood boil.  There are several agencies that are booking comedy shows, pocketing the money then sending really unprofessional and amateur shows over here.  That’s why I started booking my own shows and tours.  The comics I use are all headlining comics that you’ll see at the top comedy clubs in the nation and on TV.  You won’t see them at an open mic night.  You also have to be a headlining act to do well over here as you might have to switch up your act based on the logics and sensitivities of what’s going on that day…or you might have to follow a celebrity act Kid Rock or Tim Allen.  After doing so many tours, I also created and host a new TV show called, The Freedom of Speech Comedy Series featuring all the great comics that have come over to do military shows.  It’s ironic; when you say Freedom of Speech everything automatically thinks it’s a dirty show.  Freedom of Speech also means the freedom of thought and the concept of the show is that we let the comics loose to do whatever they want.  Some might be a bit dirty, some political but the goal is it has to be funny.  The website for the show is www.thechucklehut.com

At first, I really didn’t understand the direct and positive impact doing shows for the troops had on their morale.  It’s the greatest feeling after a show when everyone is coming up to thank us for entertaining them.  We are there doing our shows to show our gratitude to them!  At the end of one show, the colonel brought all the comics up on stage to present us with a certificate of appreciation and their coin and all the men and women stood up and saluted us in thanks.  It literally brought all four comics to tears.  We couldn’t believe how grateful these young men and women were to us for coming over while we were there to show our thanks to them. It’s why I keep doing these tours over and over again.

The comedy shows are something to talk about, it breaks up the routine and monotony and laughter truly is the best medicine.  Remember, some of these men and women over here haven’t been home in a long time and we’re the closest things to being home as we do get to leave.  I truly feel that these men and women are my family and my job is to make them laugh and forget their troubles, sorrows and hardships for a little while.  I’ve seen the toughest looking soldier laugh so hard he had tears rolling down his checks and after the show, everyone said that guy never even smiles.  He came up after the show and gave me a bear hug that almost broke my rib cage but it was great to see him laughing.

Let’s face it.  It’s not always easy being away from your family and friends in a war zone.  We all know the dangers and possibilities.  It’s sort of an unspoken truth but it also creates and underlying tension and some people have a hard time dealing with it.  On one recent tour, we had a chaplain travel with us and he sat in the front row every show.  It was a bit unsettling at first but then he explained that if the soldiers could see him laughing at even some of the questionable material that maybe he was approachable to their needs and problems and that he was just a regular guy.  It was great because we included him in the show and pointed him out, teased him a bit but letting everyone know him by face.  Sure enough, several days after I got back I received a letter from him telling us what a difference it made and that it really opened up a dialogue of communication for him and some of the soldiers.  We’re all a part of the same team.

You might think it’s difficult to get laughter from soldiers that are face with war, destruction and horrific conditions but it’s not.  As long as you’re funny!  Comedy has always been a pressure relief valve and it lets the tension out before you snap.  The more uncomfortable the situation, the more tension there is and the more you need to release that tension before something breaks.  We’ve all been in those really high-pressure situations.  Even as a child when your parents told you to go to bed and keep quite or you’ll be in trouble and then you can’t contain your own laughter.   Or on your wedding day when you’re about to take your vows and then start crackin’ up.  My wife and I both started giggling but that also brought us closer together.   As for entertaining the troops, there is no room for mediocre comics at this point.  It is a tense situation and I’ve seen really bad comics loose the crowd.   This is why you have to be so picky when putting a show together.  We’re grunting it out just like the troops so you can’t have any prima-dona entertainers running around crying because they couldn’t get their eight hours of sleep and mid-day brunch.

Being funny in an environment that represents the ravages of destruction can be a bit intimidating at first.  I was planning on wearing Depends the first time I came over.  Seriously though, at first it’s truly rattling and unsettling but the soldiers go so far out of their way to make you feel at home and after a short while it’s time to ‘step up’.  If they can be here and live under these difficult conditions, then so can I.  Although, it’s not for everybody.  It takes a strong person to be here both as a soldier and a comedian.  There is a lot of pressure but that’s why it’s so important to be the best at what you do.  It’s pretty nerve racking to hear explosions going off when your trying to deliver your punchline or have sirens whaling and planes taking off but you sort of get used to it.  It sure makes going back to the states and auditioning for some big agent a lot easier.  The last audition I had, they commented that I seemed so relaxed and unlike all the other actors.  I told them I just got back from Afghanistan where mortars were going off and there was a missile attack during the middle of my show…and no, they weren’t shooting at me because of my act. (laughing)

For the most part, there really isn’t any way to research the idiosyncrasies associated with doing shows in ‘the field’.  It’s sort of a trial by fire and it’s hard to explain it to a new comic, as you really just have to do it to understand.   You just immerse yourself into it and figure it out.  The variables are always changing and the only thing you can count on is something is always changing so you have to really be able to roll with it.  Sometimes there’s no sound gear or lights, sometimes the audience is standing in 120 degree heat with the sun in their eyes and they can’t even see you, sometimes you’re wearing your flac jacket and helmet, sometimes you doing a show in a tent for 6 guys that look like they haven’t seen a shower or razor or fresh meat in months…it’s just really such a unique experience that you have to see it for yourself.  Every tour that I’ve done there is always something memorable.  Even the comics that have toured overseas have a bond with each other.  Oh, you’ve been to Afghanistan or Iraq, UAE, Dubai or Saudi?  There is a certain amount of respect we give each other for doing these tours as well.  At the end of the day, we’re just a bunch of goofballs who are fortunate to make a living telling jokes but there is a respect among those of us who choose to do these shows.

It’s important to be able to edit on the fly and tailor your act to fit your surroundings.  The military are not allowed to discuss certain topics and it’s important to know how far you can take a joke.  We’ve done shows all around the world and each location is different.  The irony here is that America is based on Freedom but with Freedom comes a huge amount of responsibility.  You can talk about anything you want but if you cross the line, you will certainly lose the crowd so you better know what you’re doing.  With this in mind, we have to take in consideration that we are invited guests in many countries that are very different than what we are used to and it’s important to remember that as a guest, we need to respect the cultural differences and traditions of our host nations. 

It’s also important to be very aware of what conflicts are going on within the soldier’s lives as well.  Almost any topic is open but with anything tragic, a certain amount of time must pass to be able to ‘find the funny’ in something.   If something has just happened, it’s probably not wise to try and joke about it until some time has passed.  It might be too raw.  Often times we get local dignitaries coming to the shows to see what comedy really is.  I think that’s great because so many people are not allowed to speak up and be critical of their government where in America you can talk about our political leaders and make fun of them.  However, if it’s not funny, yikes!  The crowd will turn on you.  My rule is, as a guest, you don’t go to someone’s home and start breaking dishes and kicking their pets and the same is true with comedy.  Know your crowd and be respectful while still pushing the boundaries.

Most of my topics are about my everyday life and I bring a lot of my military tour’s experiences into the show, as there’s a common bond.   You also have to read the crowd.  Are they young or old, are they the dignitaries or higher ups and you have to call your show as it’s going on.  I’m constantly editing in my head.  Did this joke work?   If it did, I’ll go to this bit or if it didn’t I’ll switch it up.   That’s where an amateur will get into trouble as he/she only has a small amount of material and they’re going to do it whether the crowd likes it or not.  That’s why it’s so important to get rid of these smaller agencies that are sending what I like to call comedy rejects over here.  They get a contract and then pay some lame ass comic that can’t get work in the states a few bucks and the agent pockets the rest.  It’s comedic profiteering and it really makes my blood boil.

My material comes out of my life so it’s not uncommon for my field experiences to become a part of my regular show.  Crowds at home really want to know what’s going on outside what they see on the news.  People come up after every show and want to know all about my tours.  They ask how the troops are and what’s it like over there?  They are really concerned and interested in how our soldiers are doing.  I kinda feel like the middleman exchanging pleasantries back and forth.

The logistics of actually getting overseas ranges from the simple to the most complex.

For most tours, we fly the main leg of the trip commercial then it’s time to ‘soldier up’.   On one trip, our commercial flight had problems and we got diverted to Russia but we couldn’t leave the airport for almost twenty-four hours till another plane was ready.  We all felt like Tom Hanks in that movie where he’s stranded at the airport.  Once we are ‘in country’, we are pretty much considered in the military and get to ride like the troops but if there is an emergency, then all personnel and equipment are diverted and we sit on the sidelines till all is secure.  We do get a security briefing, which is much more than a handshake and bottle of water.  They want us to be as prepared as they are in the event of an emergency and depending on the venue the amount of briefing varies.  Let’s just say, we’re trained and ready for combat should the need arise.  I truly have never felt safer than when I am with the troops.  We’ve done so many odd venues.  We did a show if front of a land mine field, Saddam’s palace, and a coliseum in Greece, on a flatbed, in the mud and in the rain.  The great thing about comedy shows is that we can go almost anywhere unlike a band or another type of group that need instruments, sound gear, lights and more than a few people to pull it off.  I was on one tour that was under lockdown so the band couldn’t perform with all their lights and sound so we just did a makeshift show in the dark telling jokes to the soldiers.  With comedy, we can adjust to just about any situation.  We don’t need a sound check, just turn on the mic and let’s go and if we don’t have a mic, then we do it the old fashioned way and project to the back of the room.

As for the unpleasantries of war, I have seen more than I would have ever wanted to that’s for sure but it’s not nearly as much as the men and women serving our country.   It’s not something that I, or most soldiers care to discuss or share.  If you’ve been there, you know and if you haven’t then it’s probably best not to ask someone who has been there what they’ve seen.   War is hell and the details can lead to judgement.  It’s hard enough returning home without reliving the horrors.  There is a common sense of what you should and shouldn’t do or talk about   We are all a part of the same team so it’s important to know your boundaries.   Obviously, you wouldn’t want to pull a “Heraldo” by going on the news, draw a map and say, “Look everyone, I’m right here and we’re sneaking up on the bad guys”.

With that in mind, the first time I went overseas was to Bosnia during some very tough political times.  We were on alert from snipers 24/7.  Much like Hilary but without the publicity.  It really showed me the good and bad side of doing these tours and confirmed for me how important these shows are to the men and women serving our country.  When you’re under fire, the mundane annoyance of everyday life really doesn’t matter, as you truly have to live in and for the moment.  This is why the troops really get a kick out of the comedy shows.  There is not much laughter and enjoyment in their life during an active war so they cherish what little they have.

Since then, I’ve tried to do several tours each year.  Some years, I’ve done seven or eight tours and each one is usually two to three weeks at a time.  One recent tour was thirty days in Afghanistan.  Kinda sounds like the title of a movie or really bad nightmare.  Because of the war, the last few years the tour have been mostly Southwest Asia:  Afghanistan, Saudi, Egypt, Israel, Abu Dubai, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan but I’ve also done all of Europe, Japan, Iceland, Greenland, Korea, Micronesia…basically, if there are American troops somewhere, I’ve been there.  At first my wife wasn’t always thrilled that I’m heading out to a war zone to tell jokes but she understands and supports me when I do go and wants to do her part as well.  We have several pending tours coming up again throughout the year and she is going to go out on one with me.  She recently starred in the movie thriller China Dolls that I wrote and directed and she (Linda Vu) will go out and host the shows and do a meet and greet autograph session afterwards.   My website has my current schedule and I always try and blog, post pictures of my tours to keep it current.  www.donbarnhart.com

Both my brother and brother-in-law served and my dad was in the reserves so I feel like the military is a big part of my family.  When I do a meet and greet after the show, I always try and find out what the soldiers want to talk about and what’s on their mind.   Every once in awhile, you meet someone who really needs a friend.  Sometimes they need to talk and sometimes they just want to be entertained or reminded of home.

People always ask me to describe my act or to tell them a joke.  My act is story driven by punch lines.  Like before I left to go overseas, I had to get vaccinated and they gave me a shot for Anthrax.  Now I can eat worry free at any Taco Bell for the next twenty years…  I grew up in Los Angeles and got fed up with the fake people and pretentious attitude so I moved to Las Vegas.  We were poor growing up and I’m finally glad my mom turned sixty-five because she’s been using a fake id to get the senior citizen’s discount for years.

 

One of the greatest thrills is getting feedback from the soldiers.  It’s great to take pictures and do handshakes after the shows.  And now with the Internet, Facebook and Myspace, many of the soldiers I meet send me pictures and emails to stay in touch.  I’ve made so many great friends with the soldiers and I still tour throughout the states and it’s so cool when a guy or girl comes up and says that they saw me overseas.  It means they made it home and that brings a smile to my face.

 

You don’t really spend too much time thinking about the security issues or threats.  We get fully briefed so I feel we are ready for whatever comes our way.  I try and stay focused on giving the best show I can no matter the conditions.  Remember, we get to go home in a week or two so no matter how tough we have it as entertainers, the troops have it even tougher and we are here for them.  There’s a great saying, if you’re looking at the obstacles, your not focused on your goal.  The soldiers make it safe for us to do our jobs.

 

There really have never been any harrowing experiences or close calls unless getting shot at and having missiles flying all around you is frightening.  I do have some horror stories but it’s not something I choose to focus on.   I try and find the funny in it if I can, that’s part of being a comic.  There was this one time though.  I guess my worst experience while entertaining overseas was eating some unwashed fruit in Turkey.  We had just started the tour and I couldn’t stand for more than a few minutes without having to run to the bathroom but as they say, the show must go on.  We had 3 comics on that tour and I told them to just be ready, as I would do as much time as I could then run off the stage and launch my own weapon of mass destruction.  There was this foul cloud following me around.  I felt like Peg Pen from the Peanuts cartoon.  Anyway, after a few of my sprints, the crowd actually got into it and it became a part of the show.  They were actually timing me as to how long I could stay before sprinting to the bathroom again.  Let me tell you, I’m a pretty physical comic with lots of facial expressions and body movement and it’s not easy trying to be funny and squeezing your glutes at the same time.

Once we get on site, we try and work out and stay as fit as possible as these tour are really gruelling.  We might travel 24 hours then have to do a show right away and we want to give our best so being out of shape doesn’t help.  We usually do what the troops do.  If they have volleyball, then we’re out there sweating it up or if it’s movie night, then we chill out an hang with them.

Each tour is different.   If it’s a bigger base, we might be there for several days then branch out from there to do satellite shows to the smaller bases or just pop from on location to the next.  It’s all based off of what is actually going on that day and whether there is an active battle or security threat.  That’s what is so great about producing a comedy show as we can we go to a different base and then circle back later with little set up time unlike a band or bigger production style show.

My career sort of charted itself.  I grew up the son of television director Don Lewis Barnhart who directed Mork & Mindy and Saved by The Bell.  Hanging out on the sets of Los Angeles, I got the desire for doing comedy by hanging out and getting encouragement from Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters.  I then got a job at the prestigious Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, CA where I became the house emcee, talent coordinator and manger at the age of 20 and got to work with and open up for Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Robin Williams, David Spade, Jim Carrey, George Lopez, Harry Anderson and many more of the top comedy superstars working today.

Ironically, comedy wasn’t my first choice.  When I was 18, I was living in Hermosa Beach, CA surfing a lot doing nothing much with my life and I went to join the service and the recruiting office was closed.  Turns out it was Memorial Day and I was pulling a Jeff Spicolli.   Anyway, on the way home I saw a help wanted sign at a comedy club and went in and got hired as a doorman.  I only worked one night a week so I would go in and help out, bussing tables, video taping the acts and just being there all the time so I could watch the greats and then one night the emcee got sick I went on and later when I started doing comedy full time I promised myself that if I ever made a living doing stand up I would do something to support our troops.  If it weren’t for comedy, I’d be scrubbing the deck on an aircraft carrier or something.

With encouragement from the other comics, I left the security of the club to pursue his own dream and I haven’t looked back and I average over 250 days a year performing on the road.  I was just nominated Best Comedian in Las Vegas and I’m the Creator and Host of The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show.  I am the writer, director and star of the indie film, China Dolls, and just finished writing and will star in the upcoming comedy film, Freeloader.  In 2007, I was the grand prize winner of the short lived American Idol Comedy Contest and I’ve been fortunate to appear on every major comedy show from NBC to Comedy Central and MTV and I’m a regular on The Bob & Tom Show, XM and Sirius Satellite Radio.

My wife and I formed Don Barnhart Entertainment specializing in independent TV/film productions and we have one of the premier booking agencies for comedy shows for the military, colleges and corporate events and I’m a consultant to the top comedy clubs across the country.  

If you would like more information about myself or to book a comedy show, please check out our website for more information.

www.donbarnhart.com

www.chinadollsmovie.com

www.thechucklehut.com

Property firms are increasingly looking at constructing more three and four star hotels in Dubai these days. Dubai has made a surge in the recent years in trying to become the recreational center of the Middle East. A large number of tourists, apart from its expatriate community, are crowding Dubai’s lanes each year. This has given a great push to Dubai hotels, especially to those in the luxury segment. One may see many five star hotels popping up across Dubai’s horizon as a result, and many being announced regularly. The realty market hasn’t taken care of catering to the needs of the low-end clientele, on the other hand. Realtors are increasingly looking at developing more affordable hotels therefore, and trying to gain a foothold in this emerging scenario.

There are several reasons why we are witnessing a sudden spurt in three and four star hotels in Dubai. First of all, tourism is getting diversified and looking out at wining the favor of low-end clientele in the whole world. Airlines are offering discounted flights to keep up being alive in an overcrowded zone. Tour operators are selling last minute holidays and cheaper hotel rooms to win more buyers. Travel industry is fast acquiring a global and competitive outlook. Dubai hotels couldn’t ignore these emerging trends. There are several other major cities in the Middle East that could soon start giving Dubai a run for its money. Dubai has got no other alternative but to begin re-looking at its policies; hence the rising demand for less expensive hotels now.

There are a total of 90 three and four star hotels in Dubai in the present day scenario. However, it stands highly insufficient in the backdrop of a rising demand for budget accommodation. The trend might transform very quickly though, since more and more the UAE based construction houses were proposing budget hotel plans. Dubai’s investment firm Istithmar plans to partner with London based Easy Group, and build 50 more budget hotels in the near future. These Dubai hotels would be launched and promoted under the brand name of Istithmar Hotels. Dutch hotel chain, Golden Tulip Hospitality, is also planning to partner in 10 new budget hotels soon. The firm is already managing twelve hotels across this region and six more are scheduled to open up by the end of 2009.

Hotels in Dubai have always reported strong occupancy, especially during the peak summer seasons. However, the new emerging trend is that of an increased number of travelers from within the Gulf region. Until recently, Gulf travelers constituted up to 25 % of the clientele in Dubai hotels, most of these having their annual summer breaks. However, this has gone up to 50% in the recent months. Most hotels and hotel apartments report of occupancies that may lie in excess of 80 to 90 percent. One might say therefore how exhausted Dubai hotels could be finding it to continue as a business today, and how urgently they need to be given more three and four star hotels by the real estate firms.

Planning a stay in Dubai for your business meeting or family vacation? Not a problem! Being the newest and preferred business and tourist destination of the world, Dubai offers a wide variety of hotels and accommodations.

Hundreds of hotels ranging from cheap hotels to the world’s only 7 star hotel (Burj Al Arab) are scattered across Dubai. More are still under development in the everyday ongoing construction such as the Burj Dubai. All the Dubai hotels comply with the unified system set by the Dubai Tourism authorities to ensure quality service and facilities.

The most famous Dubai luxury hotel is the Burj Al Arab, which is the only seven star hotel in the world. It is built in a form of a billowing sail. This luxury hotel soars as high as 321 meters above the Arabian Gulf.

Situated in the Jumeirah Beach area, this hotel is currently one of the world’s finest luxury hotels if not the finest. This high-rise building that dominates the coastline of Dubai is seen from different sides of Dubai and offers amazing color sculptures of fire and water at night.

The special services of this hotel include luxury chauffer driven limousine airport transfers in Rolls Royce, private golf cart rides when going to adjacent properties, and private hotel staffs for all rooms. The hotel was designed to serve the International Elite class with its excellent facilities that offer complete privacy and security for their top-rank customers.

The Burj Al Arab also offers sporting activities such as kayaking, surfing, sailing, paragliding, windsurfing, and deep sea fishing. Those who can afford to have a luxurious stay in Dubai can book online at the Dubai Tourism or at the Burj Al Arab websites.

Those who want luxury at more affordable prices can try other luxury hotels in Dubai such as the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Raffles Dubai, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah, and many more. The Five Star Alliance, the alliance of luxury hotels recommends in their website the 27 luxury hotels in Dubai including the previously named Dubai hotels.

A cheap hotel in Dubai (or should I say discounted hotels) is more affordable for budget conscious tourists and are also available in all areas of Dubai. Shopping for these hotels can be done online where you can book one right away when you find it.

Aside from the current hotels in Dubai, more hotels are still to be completed in nearly halfway developments such as the Burj Dubai and in Bawadi. The Burj Dubai will be home to more luxury hotels such as the signature boutique Armani hotel. Bawadi, being one of the biggest entertainment walkways in the world will give way to the construction of 51 hotels more in the Bawadi projects.

These hotels are available in boutique, themed, and resort hotels that include the prospected world’s largest hotel, the Asia-Asia Hotel. Theme hotels will include Universal, Asian, American (countries), African, European, and Middle Eastern.

And with all that said, don’t forget the Dubai hotel apartments. The Bur Dubai area is loaded with these. These are like the extended stay hotels you are used to seeing in North America (Residence Inn’s and Towne Place Suites), except they are MUCH better.

These hotel apartments are truly luxurious with most of them with marble flooring. I suppose it is meant to give you a taste of what it would be like to live in a Dubai high rise apartment or condo. I have stayed at many of these and definitely recommend it as an alternative. I mostly recommend this if you are traveling to Dubai with your family (kids).

Dubai will be much more worth visiting if you book in one of its quality hotels. Hotel booking will be made easier and safer when done with the Dubai Tourism accredited hotels whether a luxury hotel or the more affordable ones. Dubai hotels will surely give you the services and amenities that will make you feel completely at home. Once you get there, you will see how easily it is to call Dubai your home (at least for the time being).

Visit http://www.Dubai-Information-Site.com for the best deals on Dubai hotels. The site has partnered with hand-picked agencies in Dubai to offer the best deals at the lowest prices up to 60% off!

Dubai is the first country in the United Arab Emirates that ventured away from oil as its main source of income. Today oil contributes only 6% of the nation’s GDP. Dubai has steadily and determinedly worked on transforming itself from an oil rich country into an important trade center and business port. It has done several things to attract western investors, both individuals and corporations, to set up shop there. Dubai is also the biggest banking and financial market in that area.

Besides business, Dubai has also worked hard to attract tourists and continues to develop on the theme to provide increasing number of options in terms of accommodations and also activities. There are some truly stunning resorts that have been and are being built in Dubai to attract tourists and business visitors. There are specific zones free zones in the city that have been set up to attract specific industries. Many international conglomerates like IBM, Oracle, CNN, Reuters, and Microsoft have substantial presence in Dubai.

The Real Estate market in Dubai is flourishing due to the efforts of the government to diversify in the tourist and service industry. Huge projects like the Palm Jumerirah and The World are being created on manmade islands and have caught the world’s attention even though some of them are still under construction. Inside the city you will find the world’s tallest skyscrapers and also Burj Aj-Arab, the world’s tallest hotel. The Burj Dubai is currently under construction and once it is finished it will be the tallest building in the whole world. Another project underway covers a new business district and will comprise of 500 skyscrapers.

Dubai’s economy reported a 16% growth in 2005. According to the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) its estimated worth was around $37 billion back then. It is expected that Dubai’s economic growth will surpass that of China, which is considered to be among the fastest growing economies today. China’s current growth rate is 8.5% According to the DED Director General Mohammed Ali Alabbar, Dubai’s economy is quite sustainable in the long run. He stated that the business friendly government policies will help to keep the economy growing at a steady pace.

Considering that Dubai’s economy was only $17 billion in 2000 the accumulated yearly growth of Dubai’s economy is the highest in the world for the last decade. Mr. Alabbar also pointed out that this growth was a direct result of the government decision to diversify the economy and move it away from reliance on the oil industry.

In 2005 the non-oil industries in Dubai contributed to nearly 94% of Dubai’s GDP. This is the clearest evidence that the government did the right thing by moving away from oil and focusing on other industries like business, tourism, hospitality, and others. For the past few years the economy of Dubai has shown some truly remarkable growth patterns and the continuing focus of the government on making newer policies in the same vein is going to ensure that the growth does not slow down any time soon.

The weather in Dubai is often scorching – if you know anyone who has just come back from there, you’ll no doubt be envious of their sudden tan! But despite the weather being ideal for bronzing on the beach, there’s actually another option: sports in Dubai. Okay, running around in the incredibly hot weather may not be everyone’s idea of a good time but for those that would miss their exercise while taking a Dubai holiday there are plenty of things to do that won’t leave you melting in the sun. Here are the best of them…

Working out

For many, the last thing people want to think about when on holiday in Dubai is pumping iron and working the rowing machine, but with air conditioned fitness centres in all the luxury hotels this needn’t be as gruelling as you’d think. So far, so normal, but in some lodgings, a unique Dubai sports twist is taken on hotel fitness by the coaching by ex-Soviet Union Olympiads, attracted by the wealth of the country.

Elsewhere there are a number of privately owned leisure clubs aimed at the English speaking ex-patriot community, and these have the usual range of swimming pools, tennis courts, squash courts and health spas…

A leisurely round of golf

It’s surprising to see a number of well maintained grass golf courses in a desert city like Dubai, but there they are nonetheless. There are a number of good options for golf players of all abilities, from the ‘beginners need not apply’ courses at the Emirates Majils to the more forgiving Montgomerie. Al Badia is also worth a look, somewhere between the two on difficulty, but with a clubhouse that’s up there with the best in the world making it perfect for some leisurely sports in Dubai.

A refreshing swim

Nothing beats the Dubai sunshine like a refreshing swim, and most hotels will have their own pool to cool off in. If you want something a little more fun, there’s also the Wild Wadi Waterpark at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel complex, which is ideally suited both to kids and the young at heart. With a massive selection of 24 water slides (including the memorable “Jumeirh Sceirah” with speeds of up to 50mph) this is definitely the most fun way to get some exercise on a holiday in Dubai.

Take to the water

Of course you don’t need to just settle for a swimming pool or a water park – Dubai has a natural expanse of water at the Arabian Gulf, and with it a vast range of water sports to enjoy. Jet skiing, water-skiing and that old favourite Scuba Diving are all great ways of staying in shape and having a great time on your holiday in Dubai.

Skiing (!)

If the weather really gets too much for you and you want the opposite extreme, then why not go skiing? No, I’m not about to suggest heading off to another country – you can actually enjoy an amazing indoor ski slope made from real snow! It sounds like an urban legend, but Ski Dubai has made this possible by making ‘real snow’ and then blasting it out into the building which acts as a giant refrigerator – a massive 30 tones of fresh snow are added daily to ensure that the resort’s 5 slopes (covering 22,500m ²) are always fresh and Dubai’s sports enthusiasts are kept happy.

So if you were hoping for an excuse to relax your exercise programme for your trip to Dubai, I’m afraid this isn’t it! There’s plenty to do on holiday in Dubai that won’t leave you massively dehydrated, and it’s well worth checking out!